30 HORTUS GRAMINEIIS WOBURNENSIS. 



it may be carefully distinguished from the seed of 

 hassock-grass (Fig. 11.), which is so unprofitable, 

 and difficult to eradicate when once in possession of 

 the soil, that some have apphed to it the epithet ex- 

 ecrable. This seed differs from that of the hassock- 

 grass (Fig. 11.), in being one half larger in the awn; 

 which is long, of a dark colour, and recurved or bent 

 back a little before it reaches the top of the seed ; the 

 form of the seed is likewise more of an oblong figure, 

 which a reference to Fig. 11. will shew. 

 Refer. 1. A seed, the natural size, with its bent awn. 



1. The same magnified. 



Fig' 31. Poa pratemis, smooth-stalked, or creeping-rooted mea- 

 dow couch-grass. 



Seed acuminate, or pointed, furrowed on the flat 

 side ; furnished with a thick woolly web which entan- 

 gles the seeds. 

 liefer. 1. A spiket of ripe seed, the natural size. 



2. A seed the natural size, with its woolly web attached. 

 2. The same magnified. 



Fig. 32. Poa triviulis, rough-stalked meadow-grass. Common 

 meadow-grass. 



The Poa pratemis has a strong creeping root, and, 

 like every other creeping-rooted plant, is a great im- 

 poverisher of the soil, and with difficulty rooted out 

 of land : the Poa trivialis has many good qualities ; 

 it is therefore of importance to distinguish their seeds, 

 which are so much alike. The chief mark of distinc- 

 tion to the naked eye, is the woolly web which con- 

 nects or entangles the seeds ; in the Poa prateiisis it 

 is greater than in the Poa trivialis; the seeds of the 

 former can hardly be separated from each other, but 

 those of the Poa trivialis are very little entangled by 

 the web. But with the aid of a glass, they may be at 

 once determined with certainty : the seed of the Poa 

 pratensis being more acuminate, and appearing on the 

 face concave ; while that of the Poa trivialis is shorter, 

 rounder, and nearly quite flat on the face. See 

 Fig. 13. 

 Refer. 1. Spikets of ripe seed. 



2. A seed, the natural size. 



